Training camp is in full swing, which means the start of the 2024 football season is here. As the Cardinal prepare for a new journey in the ACC, they’re also beginning to sort out who will start at which position. As those battles continue, starting with the team’s week one game against TCU on August 30, it will begin to become clear which players can be relied on to get the job done. While there’s competition at every position this year, the running back room takes center stage as we take a look at the projected lineup in the backfield.
starter
Sedrick Irvin, sophomore
As a freshman in 2023, Irvin was the team’s third option in the backfield, sharing a running back room with EJ Smith and Casey Filkins. But now that Smith is transferring to Texas A&M and Filkins is no longer on the team, the sophomore from Miami, Florida, not only has a chance to become the main man in Palo Alto, but is also the preferred starter as of now.
Despite rushing for just 113 yards last year, Irvin showed signs of tremendous potential. His best game came against Arizona, where he rushed for 66 yards and scored his first touchdown. His longest run of the night was a 45-yard run. A former four-star recruit coming out of high school, Irvin has been highly touted and if he gets the job, this could be the year he makes a name for himself.
Next
Ryan Butler, Junior
Despite carrying the ball for 60 yards just 18 times last year, Butler played in 10 of the team’s 12 games and started twice, making him arguably the most experienced ball-carrier in the running back room. His two starts came against top-ranked opponents, both then-12th-ranked Oregon State and 19th-ranked Notre Dame, so his experience against top-ranked programs will benefit Stanford as it faces teams like Clemson and Notre Dame this year. While he may open the season behind Irvin, many teams use a two-running-back system these days, which could very well result in Butler getting his fair share of runs.
Champ Hampton, sophomore
Like Irvin, Hampton played sparingly in his freshman season last year, carrying the ball just once for a two-yard gain while at the bottom of the order. But with things looking completely different, Hampton came into camp with a chance to climb the order, and in the first few days of camp, he seemed to have made significant improvements. Hampton has good size, standing at 5’10” and 205 pounds. He’s built like the ideal speedback, and while he may miss out on the RB1 and RB2 spots, his playstyle should help him find some playing time and get important touches.
Looking from the outside in
Kenaj Washington, Junior
Having yet to make his Stanford debut and not competing as a sophomore last season, Washington’s lack of college football experience puts him on the outside. However, Washington has shown off his incredible athleticism early in training camp and is known for his incredible speed. He stands just 5’7″ and 150 pounds, and his quickness and agility give him the ability to find running lanes. He may be lower on the rankings when it comes to where he ranks early in the season, but what he has to offer will be hard to ignore, especially if injuries or performance issues pile up.
The rest
Chris Davis Jr., freshman/ Micah Ford, freshman/ Cole Tabb, freshman
With all three players being complete freshmen and the battle for the running back position appearing to be looming at this point in camp, Davis, Ford and Tabb may not play a major role in this year’s schedule, but they will use this year to grow and develop in hopes of making significant contributions in 2025 and beyond.
Tabb, a former four-star recruit from Choctawatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was ranked as the No. 29 running back in the nation following his high school career in which he posted over 5,000 rushing yards and 55 rushing scores. He also holds his high school’s single-game rushing record, where he rushed for 365 yards. A first-team all-state selection, Tabb is expected to be a major presence in the backfield in the future.
Davis, also a four-star recruit, was ranked as the best running back in Mississippi and 25th in the nation after finishing his career at Picayune Memorial High School with over 2,000 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. Davis’ talent is evident and if he continues to perform as he has, he could very well be in the mix down the stretch and catapult himself up the rankings and become a key piece on offense.
Athleticism is key for Ford, who was a track star in high school, and it showed on the field, as the three-star prospect out of Toms River High School in New Jersey finished his career with 4,570 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns while also posting 2,434 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns as a quarterback. He rushed for 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior year, helping his school to its second consecutive state title. Ford received a wealth of accolades for his performances in high school, including 2022-23 NJ.com Player of the Year, 2020 MaxPreps New Jersey Player of the Year and 2022 NJ Athletics Player of the Year. Ford can take full advantage of his opportunity to prove his value to the Cardinal.
